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Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Wild Bird Wednesday 183 - Pacific Golden Plover

The grassy edges flanking the runway of Lord Howe Island airstrip are a bit of a classic viewing point for waders - and all these pictures were taken while I was leaning over the fence trying to get has close as possible to these rather wonderful birds.

Pacific Golden Plovers (Pluvialis fulva) are a summer visitor to Australia - but because we are in the southern hemisphere we only get the birds in their nonbreeding plumage. It always makes me laugh when I think that I used to call these plumages "winter" and "summer" - for birds that migrate to Australia when they are not breeding both plumages are summer!

Getting ready to go back to work tonight, so I'll keep this post short and let these splendid little, long distance travellers take centre stage.

This final shot was taken in much brighter light at the north end of the island. This bird and its companions were much more flighty than the birds on the runway - so I was not able to get as close.

As ever, it is now over to you to click on the blue button and join in the community that is WBW!

Thanks for continuing to introduce us to new birds. This seems to look more like our black-bellied plover than the American golden plover, at least in this plumage. But now I know why we had to add "American" to our golden plover.

You got me so confused about plover migration, that I had to look it up. Pacific Golden Plovers breed in Siberia and then rest or "winter" in Australia and other places southern latitudes. I also found that they make one of the longest flights between breeding and non-breeding grounds.

Good looking birds! There are so few birds here in our northern parts over the winter. Scarcely any seen for months. I can't wait to see and hear them again when they make their way back in the spring. Its rather desolate outdoors!

Good looking birds! There are so few birds here in our northern parts over the winter. Scarcely any seen for months. I can't wait to see and hear them again when they make their way back in the spring. Its rather desolate outdoors!

It's funny...I had some photos of a bird that I was just waiting on confirmation of the i.d. as to whether it was a Golden Plover before posting about it. Now that I see your photos, I know my bird is definitely a plover, but it's a different one. If they could just stay the same colors year-round, it would be ever so helpful LOL! Thanks for sharing your great photos!

Hi Stewart, great photos of the PGP's. Around here we do see Pacific Golden Plovers in almost full breeding plumage right at the end of our summer season, but you have to keep a good watch on them or else they have flown north before you are aware.

Your bird pictures will always be your piece de resistance, but venturing from them now and then is good for the soul and besides, I think your talent has no bounds. These little Plovers are gorgeous whether in mating colors or not. I love their coloring and all Plovers are just cute. So you are off to work at night? That is not usual is it? I used to work nights at the hospital and loved it, but now, I don't think I could do it. Well, I will be waiting to see what off beat pictures you come up with on your new adventure ... could be fun :)